ROSENTHAL WINE TASTING, Part II (Concord)
Fri. Dec. 12 4:30-7:30pm with Eric Broege
SAT. DEC. 13, 2-5pm with MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal
Please join us for another taste of the distinctive, terroir-driven wines of Rosenthal Wine Merchant. For thirty years, Neal Rosenthal has carefully selected artisanal wines that profoundly express their origins and traditions. The informative and inspiring MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal will be at VINTAGES’ in West Concord on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2-5pm to present the wines.

PAOLO BEA, Montefalco, Umbria
“Paolo Bea’s wines represent the finest of the artisan approach to winemaking. Bea farms his vineyards naturally. The wines are made in a traditional style that calls for extended periods of skin contact and several years of aging. At their best these are finessed, expressive wines of the highest level in a style that recalls the Brunellos of Soldera or the Barolos of Giuseppe Rinaldi, to name just two producers with a similar aesthetic.” – Wine Advocate

2005 BORDEAUX: Greatest Vintage
Fri. Dec. 12, 4:30-7:30pm & Sat. Dec. 13, 2-5pm, BELMONT
“Tasting the 2005 red wines from the bottle, many of them three or four times, confirmed that this is the greatest vintage produced during my 30-year career. A great majority of the wines are far superior from bottle than they were from cask, confirming the quality of this remarkable vintage. Most of the ratings that follow are on the conservative side, and I look forward to revisiting many of these 2005s in 5-10 years.” –Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

2005 COTE DE BALEAU, St. Emilion $38
“The Reiffers family has had resounding success with all three of their 2005s (Cote de Baleau, Grandes Murailles, and Clos St.-Martin). The dense purple-colored Cote de Baleau offers up notes of kirsch liqueur and black fruits in its sweet, concentrated, full-bodied personality. With ripe tannin as well as decent acidity, it will offer lovely drinking over the next 12-15 years.”

2005 BLASON d’ISSAN, Margaux $40
Second label of famed Margaux estate, Chateau d’Issan. Superb! 2005 Blason d’Issan shows plenty of characteristic Margaux aromas, charm & finesse, and offers the advantage of enjoyable drinking now and over the next 5-10 years.

2005 LARRIVET HAUT BRION, Pessac Leognan $53
“Exhibiting classic Graves aromas of smoky, volcanic, scorched earth, herbs, chocolate, and black cherries, Larrivet Haut-Brion’s dense ruby/purple-colored 2005 possesses superb depth, and silky yet abundant tannins. It is an excellent effort displaying a provocative bouquet as well as 15 or more years of aging potential.”–Wine Advocate

2005 MALARTIC GRAVIERE, Pessac Leognan $75
“Perhaps the strongest wine I have ever tasted from Malartic Lagravière, the 2005 has a dense ruby/purple color and a wonderfully sweet nose of crème de cassis, graphite, and soil undertones. Medium-bodied, smoky, with classic scorched earth, Graves-like aromatics and flavors, this wine displays impeccable winemaking, with pure fruit, medium body, and gorgeously long, rich flavors and moderate levels of tannin. This is possibly the finest Malartic Lagravière ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025.”–Wine Advocate

ROSENTHAL IMPORTS WINE TASTING
featuring MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal
SAT. DEC. 6, 2-5pm, BELMONT store

Please join us for a taste of the distinctive, terroir-driven wines of Rosenthal Wine Merchant. For thirty years, Neal Rosenthal has carefully selected artisanal wines that profoundly express their origins and traditions — “the best of wines will always proudly tell you from where they come.”
The informative and inspiring MICHAEL KANE of Rosenthal will be at VINTAGES’ Belmont shop 2-5pm to present the wines. Michael is a veritable fountain of precise and passionate knowledge about what’s in your glass! No “tasting notes” necessary!

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU– EST ARRIVE!

Yes, it’s that time again! Believe it or not, VINTAGES has a Beaujolais Nouveau tradition; we carry just one. It’s an organic, small-production Beaujolais-Villages made without added sugar — naturally delicious, and perfect for the ‘bird.

2008 CHATEAU de CHATELARD Beaujolais-Villages “Vieilles Vignes” Nouveau $15.99 Yep, it’s a mouthful, a juxtaposition of old and new, but that’s what these holidays are all about! Just ask for the “nouveau.”

WINE DOG DEAL! 2005 Dom. Monpertuis “Cuvee Counoise” $11.99!
Delightfully fresh and juicy red made from Counoise, one of the 13 lucky grapes that can be grown in Chateauneuf du Pape. Wild berry and cherry liqueur flavors and aromas. Delicious!

DOMAINE JACQUES PUFFENEY, Arbois Rouge Poulsard 2005, $30 (Jura) The epitome of an ethereal summer red — beautiful aromas, light to medium body red from the little-known Poulsard grape. Jacques Puffeney’s prowess in the vineyard and the cheese cave has earned him the nickname “the Pope of Arbois.” From his 7.5 hectares of vineyards in Arbois, Puffeney makes traditional Vin Jaune, whites from Savagnin grape, and this beautiful, elegant red from Poulsard. A worthy and delicious wine adventure!

2004 MANDINO CANE Dolceacqua “Vigneto Arcagna” $26 (Liguria)
Another gem in the category of outstanding summer red. In a small hillside vineyard above Italy’s Ligurian coast, Mandino Cane grows the Rossesse grape and creates a beautiful Burgundian-style red with plum fruit, dusty tannins, and a smooth, satisfying yet refreshing quality that hits the spot on a summer evening. Only a tiny amount is made; enjoy this secret red of summer.

2006 CHATEAU SAINT COSME!
Fabulous COTE ROTIE & GIGONDAS
NOTE: These wines from Chateau Saint Cosme are very limited; please email or call VINTAGES 978-369-2545 to reserve.
“The brilliant young Louis Barruol continues to augment his impressive negociant line of wines from the northern Rhone as well as his handful of southern Rhones while also concentrating on the fabulous estate wines from Gigondas, among the best two or three wines of the appellation. Barruol represents all that is good that is happening in France and other countries – a young man taking over for his parents and revolutionizing what was being done, cutting yields, cleaning up the cellars, and looking at how to make the most expressive wines possible from not only Gigondas, but from purchased fruit and wine. As for his northern Rhones, he consistently does a fabulous job with Cote Rotie. Using 100% stems, he gets none of the vegetal character that can come from stem use. As Barruol says, the 2006s are wines of great charm, seductiveness, and beautiful fruit, with freshness and vibrancy, whereas 2005 represents density, structure, tannin, and a certain austerity. To Barruol’s credit, I taste through 60-70 domaines in Gigondas, and his wines… were among the finest.” –Wine Advocate

2006 CHATEAU SAINT COSME Cote Rotie 94 pts. $80/bottle ($68 case price)
“The 2006 Cote Rotie, which comes largely from the Cote Brune vineyard Vialliere with another part from Les Plans, looks superb. Dense ruby/purple with sweet tannins, beautiful acidity, fabulous flavor intensity and penetration, and again, great aromatics, this is a terrific Cote Rotie that should ultimately eclipse the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. 92-94 pts.” –Wine Advocate

2006 CHATEAU SAINT COSME Gigondas 92 pts. $35/bottle ($29.75 case price)
“The 2006 Gigondas, which one would call Tradition or Classique, looks to eclipse the 2005. Dense black cherry fruit and cassis, a deep ruby/purple color, floral black cherry and blackberry fruit notes, with plenty of tannin, good acidity, and freshness characterize this wine, which is structured and potentially long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020+ 92 pts.”–Wine Advocate

Jean-Marc Burgaud is a young Beaujolais winemaker on the rise. Tenacious and diligent, he has great ambitions for his wines, and in Morgon, he has the vineyards to achieve them. The Morgon Cote de Py is his signature wine.
2006 JEAN-MARC BURGAUD MORGON Cote du Py $17.99 Deep blackberry and dark cherry-scented perfume; ripe cherry, blackberry, and spice-filled character. A wine of substantial structure & outstanding length. Can be enjoyed now, but definitely benefits from cellaring. Excellent example of Morgon, superb value!

2006 JEAN-MARC BURGAUD Chateau de Thulon Beaujolais-Villages $11.99 Gamay from 50-year-old vines in an historic 12th c. property. Beautiful violet and strawberry aromas; lighter ruby color, with ripe plum and berry fruit. Terrific mineral undertones lend surprising structure and a smooth, long finish. A perfect summer red!

2007 JEAN-MARC BURGAUD “Rosez!” Beaujolais- Villages Rose $12.99 A truly mouth-thrilling ride through sun-drenched gamay! Crisp & refreshing!